HSC, Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition
*Healthy Start Coalitions (HSC's) offer CONNECT (aka Coordinated Intake and Referral) which is a one-stop entry point for needed or desired services for all pregnant women and families with infants/toddlers up to age 3
*Pregnant women and families may either be referred by another agency or may self-refer; participation in services is entirely voluntary and not based on income, citizenship or Medicaid acceptance
*Available services vary by county, but all offer prenatal and infant/toddler support services often on a home visit basis; including: breastfeeding and childbirth education, nutrition counseling, tobacco cessation services, support groups, mental health counseling, parenting support and education, infant/toddler developmental education and screenings, information or assistance with applying for pregnancy Medicaid (SOBRA); In some counties, assistance may be available for low-income women who cannot get Medicaid to find low-cost prenatal care
*One of the goals of Healthy Start Coalitions is to connect women experiencing perinatal depression (which includes anxiety and other mood disorders) to mental health services; Women participating in any of the programs are offered a brief screening questionnaire (the Edinburgh Depression Scale) during their pregnancy and during the postpartum period
*Fatherhood coaches available to assist current and new fathers; T.
Services: Breastfeeding Support Programs, Expectant/New Parent Assistance, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Treatment